Join me on our journey as we learn how to disciple our children. We will make mistakes but we will learn and our children will be the better for it. By God's grace we will prevail and our children will walk in Truth and Light.

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Monday, September 24, 2012

Baby Steps

September 24, 2012

I think I just realized what my problem is. I have been
expecting too much from myself, my kids and my God. I had the silly notion that
I would just have lots of Bible time with my children, do some character
training and everything would just fall into place. Surely God would reward my
efforts with instant gratification.

Then today we were studying the fear of the Lord in our
Keys for Kids devotional. And I was explaining that we are not to be afraid of
God but respect Him for the power that He alone has and that that respect
should manifest itself in obedience. So I asked them “If you say you love God
and do not obey Him or show Him respect, do you truly love Him?” The answer was
easy for them, “No.” Next question, “If I say I love Daddy and then show him no
respect and don’t listen to anything he tells me, do I love him?” Again the
answer was easy for them. Next question, “If you say you love me and then show
me no respect and don’t listen to anything I say, do you love me?” You could
almost hear the sound of little motors turning and tiny little light bulbs
flickering on as the dots were being connected. After a brief pause the answer…
“No.” We ended the moment with James’ reminder that he could show his faith
through his works; and, that you can say ‘I believe’ or ‘I love you’ but if you
don’t have the actions to back it up your words are meaningless.

We breezed through our morning routine without incident
(or at least none worth remembering). Getting the whole house cleaned so we can
enjoy the rest of our week.

For our character training studies I read Deuteronomy 6
with my son (we’re still working on the qualities of a good leader). We all
know the passage, we like to quote it as a homeschool mantra. I’ve even used it
a couple of times myself. But as I was relating the events of our day to my
husband I said something along the lines of “Every once in a while I see a
glimmer of growth in him.”

That is when it hit me. This is going to take time. It
has to be all day, every day. And I have to live it. God isn’t using all this
Bible time to change just my children; He’s using it to change me too. Not all
at once lest we break under the pressure; but in baby steps.